Alpine Headphones buzz to make you feel your music

Great sound quality is one thing, but what if you want to go one step further? These headphones buzz along with the music, letting you literally feel the track being played.

They’re called the Alpine Headphones, from the eponymous in-car entertainment company. They feature TKR3 Full Frequency Immersion Technology – basically a bass transducer on the upper part of the headband that pulses along with the beat. It’s meant to recreate the sensation of being at a concert or club through what Alpine calls “sound field expansion”.

The partner app comes into play, too. It scans the music on your iPhone and aggregates it depending on its energy level i.e. how frantic it is. Pick an energy level – fast if you’re going for a run, slow if you’re relaxing or doing yoga – and it’ll play a random selection to fit your mood or activity.

The app is iOS-only at present. There’s no word on whether an Android version is on the way.

It’s an interesting idea, and certainly something new. But we’re a little skeptical. The buzzing could get quite annoying, depending on how it’s handled. Going to a concert and feeling the bass in your chest is definitely an experience, though not necessarily one we’d like while popping out for some milk.

We’ll reserve judgement until we get a review pair. They go on sale in the US from tomorrow, in Apple retail stores and online. They will cost $299 (£187). There’s no word on a UK release.